I think that might be a pre-Raleigh model, esp. because of the Birmingham head badge. I think maybe 1950s? Really gorgeous, and probably would really clean up well with a fairly minimal amount of work. I've often thought about just randomly going around and washing people's beautiful old dirty bikes. Kind of a public service...

I think Sears sold Phillips bikes back in the late 50s or early 60s. I remember my grandmother had one and when I visited I'd ride it standing up inside the seat and down tube "V" since I was way too small to actually sit on the saddle.

Yes, the Manhattan was a 50s model (with a bit of statistical fudging). It and the Phillips scripted chain ring ended when production moved to Nottingham as bargain basement Raleighs. This is a real Phillips.

In 1960, however, TI had effectively acquired effing everything, but hadn't done the old mergarooney yet. Some sharing of parts between brands for manufacturing efficiency started going on right away though; so a Phillips with a Raleigh chain case indicates a 1960 date of manufacture. Some 61s might have been made as well, but I don't know. There was a factory walkout in January of that year in protest of the shut down.

Thankks for posting this! i have a 60 mens manhattan with rear dyno and full case. pix of manhattans tough to find! i believe mine is a birmingham rather than raleigh.nterestingly the manhattan decal in your fotos is very deco and beautiful whereas mine is kind of pop art--totally different! mine unfortunately very faded, anyone know how i can reproduce it--maybe fotoshopped then to a sign store? i am going to repaint my very faded beauty myself

I actually have this bike. I got it for Christmas while living in Germany in the late 50's. I believe it's a 1958. It is still in working condition, even the light. A little faded but I love it still. Can't believe it's been 52 years! It's blue and white.

AG, that's correct. The Birmingham and Nottingham referred to in these comments is understood to be in England, and as for why they chose to call their bike "Manhattan", who knows? I don't think anyone believes it was made in Manhattan.